Q TIPS:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Job-hunting tips from the September 25, 2006 issue of
QuintZine.
Almost 50 percent of visitors noted that their resume needs help; more than 33 percent stated that they can live with it, leaving less
than 19 percent that are confident that their resume was "perfect," according to a survey conducted across a network of more than
11,000 sites by Beyond.com, Inc., the largest niche career network for business professionals.
Beyond.com recommends that professionals take advantage of a variety of available resources to improve their resume, such as
resume-writing services, workshops, or even contacting a friend or colleague to provide insight and helpful suggestions. It is also
important to be sure to exclude sensitive information such as your social security number and effectively exhibit your value proposition.
According to two separate online surveys sampling 350 HR professionals, 61 percent said they find inaccuracies in
resumes after background checks. Some interesting data emerged in answers to the question posed in an online "Background
Checks/Resume Inaccuracies" survey: "When investigating the backgrounds of job candidates, how often do you find
inaccuracies in their resume?"
6 percent said "often"
55 percent indicated "sometimes"
27 percent reported "rarely"
2 percent stated "never"
9 percent responded, "We do not investigate the backgrounds of potential employees."
The second survey on effects on hiring decisions based upon discovering inaccuracies revealed these stats:
86 percent said it was either "very important" or "important"
Now, how about AFTER your send out your resume? What about following up? According to a survey of 150 hiring executives recently
conducted by Robert Half International, a whopping 82 percent said job-seekers should follow up within two weeks of submitting application
materials. Only 5 percent said professionals should refrain from communicating once a resume has been sent.
Executives were asked, "How long should a job seeker wait to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a resume?"
Their responses:
One week or less: 37 percent
One to two weeks 45 percent
Two to three weeks: 9 percent
Three weeks or more: 3 percent
Don't follow up: 5 percent
Don't know: 1 percent
Executives also were asked, "In your opinion, what is the best way for a job-seeker to follow up with a hiring manager after
submitting a resume?" The top three responses were via e-mail (38 percent), telephone (33 percent), and a handwritten note
(23 percent).
Bottom line? Executives expect you to follow-up. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're being a pest by checking
on the status of your application.
Almost 50 percent of visitors noted that their resume needs help; more than 33 percent stated that they can live with it, leaving less
than 19 percent that are confident that their resume was "perfect," according to a survey conducted across a network of more than
11,000 sites by Beyond.com, Inc., the largest niche career network for business professionals.
